Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Awesomenism’ of all awesomeness is the word that best describes this feeling. My name is Lo and a University of the South Pacific student currently a trainee wavu for Tribewanted in Vorovoro, ‘L’ for ‘Love and ‘O’ for Owsum : ) just call me Lo..Haha! I am a part of the sustainable living society in Vorovoro for Tribewanted, how cool is that ! : ) . Everyone asks me how did I get this job compared to all my other fellow colleagues in Uni. Well’ I just raise my eyebrows, smile and say “I guess I was at the right place at the right time” as my usual answer to save my long story of how I got here, because that is indeed true. The first day I got here, Mama Jenny did the usual tour around the village, just as we usually o for every new person that arrives. I was so amazed at the creativity of the place and how beautifully they have arranged all the Bure and everything else. This was something you do not see everyday back home and I’m sure tribe members who have been here agree with me. Sustainable development does not only mean sustaining the environment and not compromising the needs of the future. In Vorovoro it is more than that, in the sense of Fijian Culture conservation and the rules, morals and guidelines to adhere to when being in a rural Fijian village. Crimestopper aka Leavi whom I found out later that we were related due to my maternal links in Ligaulevu is everyone’s best friend when it comes to learning about the Fijian culture, what to do or what to wear on different occasions in the Fijian community. One day on my way back from Tanoa Park, I saw him at the Vorovoro garden area, doing some weeding. I came and I sat with him and we had a little chat. It was worth it, I remember him saying that Fiji today is totally changed from it’s conservative, pure and unique cultural background. It may, in some villages, seem that some of the traditional aspects still being practiced and respected but for rural urban villages, it just make me wonder. The difference is big, really big. It was this idea that created the focus of the creation of the Vorovoro community to be different in the way that the uniqueness of the Fijian culture is to be preserved and not die out. The landowners believed this to be a success and it still is. Women are still asked to cover up when the chief is around, when they are travelling to the village and also the announcing of one’s self when approaching someone’s house or the Great Grand Bure, where I love to hang out and play the guitar. This is a learning experience for me because that is my goal while being here. Vorovoro presents a wonderful opportunity for learning, in the kitchen, in the grog mat, campfires, game nights, fun nights and you even learn while you are in the loo :-D , the articles and comments about saving energy, saving water etc etc.

The atmosphere of the place daily is something that will remain with me everywhere I go. The jokes in the kitchen is just hilarious especially if someone says something corny or cheeky and someone else shots back a “Lewa ga!!!” or “Baito!!”, I just have an emotional breakdown and laugh it off. The informal grog mat is something else, I just make sure I sit down quietly and don’t provoke anyone to escape the ‘FULL FORCE MALAU BUS’ ( biggest grog bilo) that will surely just send me off to bed without saying proper goodbyes. : ) Recently, the newly invented ‘INDIGO BUS’ by Papa Jimmy is also something to guise, its deeper than the MALAU BUS and according to Johnny (boat captain) not only will your tongue go numb but your head and someplace else also. I don’t know if that is true because I haven’t tried it yet but from the way Johnny was explaining with all the facial expression, hmmm… I think its true and there’s only one way to find out! This is something that I do not see everyday back home and the feeling that is attached with it is something that is going to stay with me. I believe that I am one of the many people who have come here to have experienced the same feeling that they have. My pockets are almost full from the little things that I learn everyday, origami, playing the guitar, new games, new words and I now know my limit when it comes to grog, I have my weaknesses too you know. The happy feeling that I have endured while being here is that I have learnt how the existence of Tribewanted in Vorovoro have done to community surrounding it. The Mali school visits and the village visits has a lot of advantages over the kids, parents and the community as a whole. The effect of the presence of tribe members when we visit the school makes the children’s eyes lit up and you see smile on their faces. If I could read minds I’m sure the term ‘kaivalagi’ will be there somewhere. The exposure to the English language is a boost for the kids because when a tribe member is around there is no choice but to speak in English to communicate properly. When it is time to visit a village and buy handicrafts there is a positive relationship established. The visitors get their souvenir and the village get their money that will create a multiplier effect in the community and the economy as well. I am happy to say that I believe Tribewanted is here to stay in Vorovoro, the environment and the people have a good relationship which is very important in the context of sustainable development. Everything else just move in with that flow and there is only one thing that you have to remember to do, wash your dishes after meal time. When you are in Vorovoro, feel at home because it is home!